Though the restrictions and the threat of being summoned aren’t new, Beijing’s eagerness to spell out how it enforces censorship online is. That process was previously carried out quietly and largely without a paper trail.

Where in the past, China often denied censoring the Internet, it has increasingly embraced its reputation as a pioneer in Internet control. The head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Lu Wei, convened a global Internet conference last year where he promoted a vision of the Internet as a security risk. Other officials have trumpeted China’s censorship system for creating the conditions for Chinese Internet companies to thrive.

[… T]he rules aren’t necessarily a bad thing for China’s Internet firms, which are frequently being called in for criticism sessions, according to [Charlie Dai, an Internet analyst with Forrester Research]. “Now it’s clearer for those companies when to expect to have those discussions,” he said. [Source]

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

The site refutes rumors collected from Twitter-like microblog services, news portals and other websites. One entry detailed the rumor a woman in the city of Qingdao was sent a kangaroo when she bought milk powder online from Australia. Qingdao police and customs officials were cited saying they’d never received reports of such an incident, according to the entry. Other rumors refuted include those of misconduct by government officials.

Social media sites including Sina Weibo have become the main platforms used by Chinese citizens to expose corruption and wrongdoing in a country where all newspapers, television and radio stations are state-owned. A vice chairman of China’s economic planning agency was fired in May after a Chinese journalist posted allegations of improper business dealings on his microblog.

“China is unique in that social media has become such an important venue for news,” said Doug Young, author of the book “The Party Line: How the Media Dictates Public Opinion in Modern China.” The rumor refuting website is the government’s attempt to have a voice in the information flow that can result in serious damage to reputations, he said. [Source]

The definition of “rumors” is very ambiguous in China. Any piece of news or information that has not been released by official government channels can be considered a rumor. For example, the outbreak of SARS was first appeared as a rumor in November 2002. In cases when the government wants to suppress the news, all discussions are labelled as rumors. When Chongqing Public Security Bureau head Wang Lijun took refuge in the US Consulate,information on his whereabouts had circulated online for over a week as “rumor” before the Chinese government confirmed the information. [Source]

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/08/rumor-control-squad-launched-online/feed/0Censorship Vault: Beijing Internet Instructions Series (29)http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-29/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-29/#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2012 00:08:04 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=147822In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing Internet Instructions” series to the Censorship Vault. These directives were originally published on Canyu.org (Participate) and date from 2005 to 2007. According to Canyu, the directives were issued by the Beijing Municipal Network Propaganda Management Office and the State CouncilInternet management departments and provided to to Canyu by insiders. China Copyright and Media has not verified the source.

This year is the 5th anniversary of the “9/11″ terror attacks suffered by the United States, the U.S. will organize a number of remembrance activities. All websites are required to pay attention: to report related remembrance activities, only reprint People’s Daily Net and Xinhua Net copy; do not make special subjects; timely block and delete acclaims for terror attacks and other harmful discussions; it is strictly prohibited that misleading and inciting discussions that link terrorism with the Islamic religion emerge online.

II. Notice concerning strengthening online propaganda work on building Socialism and a harmonious society

The Politburo of the CCP Central Committee has decided to convene the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, in October of this year, the main theme of the 6th Plenum is researching the question of building Socialism and a harmonious society. In order to create a good online public opinion atmosphere for the convention of the 6th Plenum, and stimulate the construction of a harmonious society, hereby, the following requirements for online propaganda work are notified:

(1) Guiding ideology

Building Socialism and a harmonious society are the major strategic tasks put forward by the Communist Party starting from the total arrangement of the Socialist undertaking with Chinese characteristics and the overall picture of completely constructing a relatively well-off society. Online public propaganda and reporting must earnestly implement the important principles, policies and deployments made by the Party Center in the area of building a harmonious society, give prominence to propagating the new progress, new results and new experiences up and down the entire country in the area of building a harmonious society, and new achievements obtained in economic, political, cultural, and social construction, and other aspects, in order to create a good online public opinion environment for the convention of the 6th Plenum.

(2) Focus propaganda points

a. Meticulously explain and interpret our Party’s strategies and policies in building Socialism and a harmonious society, the important speeches of Central leading comrades concerning harmonious society construction, the newest achievements of theoretical circles’ research concerning harmonious society construction published by Central focus news and network media, and deeply analyze the major significance of building a harmonious society for our country’s developments.

b. Starting from both the macro-level and the micro-level, give prominence to introducing the new measures, new progress and new achievements of harmonious society construction nationwide and in all localities.

c. Integrated with welcoming National Day, look back on the course of our 57 years of development, give prominence to our Party’s wise decisions in concepts to govern the country and the development path, and its important navigational function.

d. Give prominence propagating our Party’s confronting the problem of influencing the harmony of Chinese society with a positive attitude, correctly dissolving social contradictions, expanding the harmonious factors to the largest extent, and reducing the inharmonious factors to the largest extent.

a. From 15 September, Qianlong, Sina, Sohu, NetEase, TOM and China Net shall again publish a corresponding special subject on building a harmonious society on the main page of the news website “focus subject” or “hot subject” areas (the original special subject may be used). Before 1 October, it may be placed in a relatively low position in the focus subject section; after 1 October, it is to be put in a high position, on the second or third line; from three days before the 6th Plenum begins until three days after the meeting concludes, it must be placed on the first position of special subjects, and special subject entry points are to be set up on the main page of the website and the news section.

c. Before and after the 6th Plenum, strengthen propaganda and reports around the process of the meetings; strengthen deep interpretation of the reports and decisions passed at the meeting, and the speeches of General Secretary Hu Jintao.

d. Vigorously excavate news events reflecting the “harmonious society,” and use them to substantiate the special subject.

e. Revolving around harmonious society construction topics, set up constructive discussion topics, and guide netizens to participate in discussion on harmonious society construction.

(4) Work requirements

Propaganda keys must be strictly grasped, persist in giving first place to positive propaganda. News information sources must be standardized, strengthen guidance, supervision and control over online public opinion. All websites cannot exaggerate or play up topics existing in harmonious society construction and are not allowed to engage in online surveys under the guise of harmonious society construction topics, online attacking discussions and harmful information must be timely deleted. If any website has good propaganda suggestions, they must report the propaganda policy and plan to our office for examination and approval in advance. Contact person: Municipal Network Management and Network Propaganda Office, Lin Lingsi, telephone: 85120188, ext. 852; 13164291104, e-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com

III. Notice concerning doing online propaganda and reporting for the 57th National Day well

1 October of this year is the day of remembrance for the 57th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, in order to even better propagate the glorious course that our country has marched for 57 years, and create a joyous and auspicious holiday atmosphere, hereby, the following is notified concerning online propaganda and reporting work for the 57th National Day:

(1) Guiding ideology

Forcefully propagate the increase in our country’s comprehensive national strength since the founding of the nation and especially since reform and opening up, the social development progress, the improvement in people’s living standards and the rise in international position; forcefully propagate the prominent achievements obtained by our country in political, economic, cultural and social construction and other areas; forcefully propagate that the correct leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is an important guarantee for our country to become strong and prosperous; forcefully propagate the new progress and new achievements of the people of all ethnicities in the entire country of establishing and implementing the scientific development view, completely constructing a relatively well-off society, building a Socialist harmonious society, and constructing a new Socialist countryside in these new times, to create a good holiday atmosphere for the 57th National day.

(2) Propaganda focus points

a. Forcefully propagate the huge achievements of our country since founding the nation and especially since reform and opening up in the aspects of political, economic, cultural, and social construction, prominently report the achievements gained in our country’s economic construction in the last half-year.

b. Vigorously report the celebration activities organized in all localities in the entire country around the 57th National Day, all sectors and all industries’ actual activities to present gifts for the 57th glorious anniversary of the motherland, to create a united, warm, and joyous holiday atmosphere.

c. Grasp the key theme of propaganda and reporting on the Golden Week travel well, guide netizens to have a healthy, happy and safe National Day vacation, put an end to the emergence of propaganda and reports that propagate luxury and waste, and environmental destruction.

d. Integrate Mid-Autumn Festival, and ensure propaganda and reports that gives high regard to China’s traditional holidays and carries forward the excellent cultural traditions of the Chinese nation.

e. Qianlong Net will strengthen propaganda and reporting over corresponding activities to celebrate the 57th National Day in Beijing City and on economic and social construction achievements, and sets up a special section; commercial websites must appropriately expand propaganda strength concerning activities related to the 57th National Day in Beijing City.

(3) Work arrangements

a. All Qianlong, Sina, Sohu, Netease, TOM, and China Net must roll out a “Celebrate the 57th Anniversary of the Foundation of the People’s Republic of China” (the name may be somewhat changed) in the special subject section of the news centre, starting from 25 September, and maintain it until 15 October.

b. This special subject production must fully give rein to the initiative and creativity of all websites, all websites, apart from having to transmit National Day speeches from Central leaders and Central organizations’ important National Day activities, may set up National Day propaganda and reporting plans by themselves, but relevant plans must be reported to the Network Management Office Network Propaganda Office for examination and approval before 20 September. Contact person: Network Management Office Network Propaganda Office, Lin Lingsi, telephone: 85120188, ext. 852; 13164291104, e-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com

11 September 2006, 9:51, Beijing Municipal Information Office

All businesses: Please make the title “Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration” into the special subject entry point for the “Glory of the Zunyi Conference”, and put the entire text of the Qianlong Net information “Qianlong Net and other Beijing Media Issue the ‘Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration’” in the header of the special subject (http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm), at the same time, issue the title “Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration” on the main page of websites. All specialist websites: please reprint the “Qianlong Net and other Beijing Media Issue the ‘Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration’” on the main page of websites and the header of the first page of the news centers or the first page of forums (http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm).

Everyone, now, the special subject “ideological and moral education of the youth” is to go online, and put up from today until the 17th, put it in the second line of the main page of websites and the second line of the important news section of the news centre, juxtapose it with the special subjects on running the web in a civilized manner and the Long March.

12 September 2006, 15:10, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

All websites, please search for and delete the text “Doctoral Students Uncover and Report Scandal in the Chongqing University Economics and Management Faculty” from forums and blogs. The said post states: “I am Li Qiongfang, a research student of Chongqing University President Zhang, I am now in the third year of my doctorate, at present, we live in the dark Chongqing University, pass our days in extreme difficulty, look forward to all walks of society paying attention to our fate, and paying attention to the widely existing problems in Chongqing University…” Chongqing University has issued a statement concerning this matter that states: Chongqing University states that in the past few days, there were domestic websites who published a post that so-called “Doctoral Students Uncover and Report Scandal in the Chongqing University Economics and Management Faculty,” and many echoing posts have emerged. Against this, Chongqing University states the following: (1) After checking and verification, Chongqing University has never had a doctoral student called Li Qiongfang; (2) The phenomena listed in these posts are pure fabrications, and maliciously defame Chongqing University and corresponding lecturers; (3) Our school’s doctoral student recruitment and training has strict management structures and financial structures, and the phenomena of bribe-taking, embezzlement of student allowances, wilful delay of student training segments and graduation alluded to in the posts have never taken place; (4) In order to guarantee the training quality of doctoral students, the provisions of the school’s “Chongqing University Graduate Student Management Regulations ‘Trial,’” the “Chongqing University Regulations on Graduate Student Applications for Master and Doctoral Degrees and Publishing of Academic Dissertations (Trial Draft)” and document CQU No. (2005)40 have been strictly implemented in the Economics and Management Faculty’s training of doctoral students; (5) The school has reported this case to the public security organs, the public security organs have accepted it. The school will continue to adopt legal methods to clarify the facts and safeguard the reputation of the school and the rights and interests of lecturers and staff. Chongqing University President’s Office, 30 August 2006

12 September 2006, 15:12, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

All websites: Please immediately link to the Dayu Net special subject “Large Campaign for Online Donations – Themed Disaster Relief Activities to Help the Chongqing Disaster Areas to Cross the Crisis” in the special subject column of the website’s news center, and leave it there for six months.

12 September 2006, 15:12, network Management Office, Duty Manager

(1) Please immediately delete the article “Prestige of Japanese Prime Ministerial Candidate Under Attack Because of Buying Spirits in China.”

(3) All websites are requested to pay attention: In the time before and after the day of remembrance of the Mukden Incident, please do not open trackers on reports involving Japan. Forums are also not to guide discussions, do not make reports involving Japan into main posts.

18 September 2006, 15:13, Beijing Municipal Information Office

Today, the post of the so-called “Provisional Rules on Implementing Policies Concerning Military Cadres Transferred to Enterprises” has been issued on some forums and websites, these so-called “rules” are pure rumors. Whenever they emerge, they must be immediately deleted, websites may also not upload this information.

(2) The auction house Sotheby’s has claimed that it will organize an auction having articles from China’s Cultural Revolution and “June 4th” in the near future. Please do not report this auction. It must also be prevented that relevant information is spread on interactive segments.

(3) Please delete the article “South Korea Scrambles for the Su Reef in the East China Sea – Chinese Side Strengthens Maritime Patrols and Management.”

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-29/feed/0Censorship Vault: Beijing Internet Instructions Series (27)http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-27/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-27/#commentsTue, 04 Dec 2012 15:46:39 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=147616In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing Internet Instructions” series to the Censorship Vault. These directives were originally published on Canyu.org (Participate) and date from 2005 to 2007. According to Canyu, the directives were issued by the Beijing Municipal Network Propaganda Management Office and the State Council Internet management departments and provided to to Canyu by insiders. China Copyright and Media has not verified the source.

Recently, it has been discovered that the text “Monks Collectively Visit Prostitutes – The Background of the ‘Three Old Convent Scandal’ in Guangdong,” published by foreign websites, has been posted some domestic forums and blogs, etc., and attacks our religious policies. All websites are requested to strengthen management and earnestly inspect this, this text may not be reprinted or posted, where it has been posted, it must be speedily deleted.

21 August 2006, 21:30, Network Management Office

Content concerning the case of Gao Yingying, is no longer to be put on the main page of websites and the main page of news and forums. Stop renewing news trackers and forum trackers.

22 August 2006, 8:45, Network Management Office

All websites: the Youth World Cup has finished, please delete the special subject on the “Athletic Federation Youth World Cup;” the special subject of commemorating the Long March will no longer have “One Primary School Pupil’s Long March Website” as special subject entry, please restore the title of “Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March” as entry; the special subject of running the web in a civilized manner will no longer have “Prevent Online Wrongdoing” as entry point, please restore the title of “Running the Web in a Civilized Manner” as title. In the near future, if there is no new notification, please only maintain these two entry points for special subjects in the important news section of the main page of news centers: commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, and running the web in a civilized manner.

22 August 2006, 9:15, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

Sina, Sohu, NetEase, China, TOM, Xici Hutong, Western Land Forum, Mop Forum, DoNews, Blog Net, Baidu, China Search, Search Dog, Aiwen, Yahoo China, Qihoo, and Great Flag: the State Council Information Office Second Phase Internet News Training Class registration time is the afternoon of 25 August; the place of registry is the Yuanshan Grand Hotel (Xicheng District, Yumin Road, No. 2, between Anhua Bridge and the Panda Roundabout on the Axis Road, 50 metres to the west of the traffic lights, the hotel telephone number is 62010033).

24 August 2006, 9:47, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

All websites: Please put the matter of water pollution occurring recently in the Songhua River in the middle part of the important news section, do not put it in a header position.

24 August 2005, 16:56, Huang Jing

All websites, please make “Lin Biao’s diaries” into a keyword, delete all search results in search engines (including snapshots).

24 August 2006, 17:16, Huang Jing

All websites, on reports concerning the matter of workers gathering on the roof of a building to protest against late salary payments causing traffic disruption (images), all websites are requested to immediately remove it from information on their sites!

24 August 2006, 17:56, Huang Jing

Recently, a water pollution accident happened in the domestic tributary of the Songhua River, the Niu River, in Jilin City, Jilin Province, Xinhua has already issued news copy. For online reports of this matter, all websites are only to reprint Xinhua copy, do not reprint articles from other sources, do not set up news trackers, do not link it up with the Songhua River pollution incident. Management over forums, blogs and other interactive columns must be strengthened, harmful information that is inconsistent with official reports or uses the opportunity to attack the Party and State structure, etc., must be timely deleted.

27 August 2006, 0:56, Chen Hua

Search for and delete the article “Second Artillery Construction Sites Spread into Xinjiang, Tibet and Other Localities, Workload Quadruples,” search engines are to screen this article.

28 August 2006, 8:35, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

All websites, please immediately delete the recent online text concerning “Why Take the Knife of Cui Yingjie to Kill Chengguan.”

(1) All sorts of information must be published according to the uniform formulation of the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Work Coordination Group. Information from other sources or non-standard formulations may not be reprinted;

(2) The wording “global recruitment” may not be adopted in news titles and reports on recruitment work;

(3) Information on negative trends occurring in recruitment work may not be reprinted.

30 August 2006, 12:12, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

Concerning the case of social security funds being diverted in Shanghai City, only transmit People’s Daily and Xinhua Net copy, do not make it into a special subject, do not open trackers, do not conduct surveys, do not debate it. All websites are requested to immediately deal with situations that do not conform to the above requirements. Forums, blogs and other interactive segments are not to discuss this.

31 August 2006, 9:00, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

All websites: please move the article “Dashan Village Committee in Panyu, Guangzhou, Forces Detention of 200 People concerning Temporary Residence Permits” to the domestic section.

31 August 2006, 9:53, Network Management Office, Huang Jing

All websites, please put the article “Beijing Network Media Deliberate the Long March Spirit in Zunyi, Chinese Long March Net Opened” in the middle or upper part of the important news section of the news center, and the title on the main page of websites.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-27/feed/0Censorship Vault: Beijing Internet Instructions Series (24)http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-24/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-24/#commentsMon, 03 Dec 2012 17:13:38 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=147540In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing Internet Instructions” series to the Censorship Vault. These directives were originally published on Canyu.org (Participate) and date from 2005 to 2007. According to Canyu, the directives were issued by the Beijing Municipal Network Propaganda Management Office and the State Council Internet management departments and provided to to Canyu by insiders. China Copyright and Media has not verified the source.

“The ‘Problem Loan’ of 3.2 Billion Eliminates Zhang Rongkun” in the 21st Century Business Herald is not to be reprinted without exception, or to be discussed in forums. It cannot be put on blogs. Where it is discovered, delete it immediately. Make “Zhang Rongkun” into a keyword on blog networks. No corresponding content may appear on forums, columns and individual blogs.

25 July 2006, 10:00, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

Please direct all search results for “Hu Haiqing” and “Lang Xianping” towards news websites, clean up all information about these two persons, including forums and blogs, which must be cleaned op, only maintain the content of news websites.

26 July 2006, 10:11, Chen Hua

(1) Concerning the issue of the North Korea nuclear crisis, forums are no longer to actively set up discussion topics; (2) Discussions concerning the household situation of Kim Jong-il or against South Korea may not be played up, lower the temperature on forums; (3) Please remove the First Financial Daily report concerning reform of undertaking work units from the front page of news and the front page of websites; (4) It is strictly prohibited to gather news or translate foreign news dispatches about the attack on United Nations observers, manage posts and forums well; (5) do not play up the incident of the Italian woman who was murdered in Chaoyang Park.

26 July 2006, 14:06

Propaganda and reporting requirements for activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tangshan earthquake.

I. Give prominence to propaganda and reporting focus points. Propagate the magnificent achievements of the recovery and rebuilding in Tangshan in the 30 years since the earthquake and changes in economic and social development, propagate the “quake-proof spirit” of “being selfless in official duty, going through tough times together, keeping fighting in spite of setbacks and advancing bravely.”

II. Report important events online well. On 27 and 28 July, Xinhua and the People’s Daily will respectively transmit news reports reflecting the huge developments and changes in Tangshan’s economy and society in the 30 years since the Tangshan earthquake and especially since the 16th Party Congress; on 28 July, Xinhua will transmit copy concerning a large remembrance conference for the 30th anniversary of the Tangshan earthquake of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government; on 28 July, China National Radio and China Central Television will respectively produce and broadcast special subject programs, reflecting the huge economic and social developments and changes in the 30 years since the Tangshan earthquake and especially since the 16th Party Congress; at the end of July, main Central news work units will issue information about Hebei provincial leaders meeting with and consoling orphans who survived the Tangshan earthquake and people who were disabled. All websites must timely and fully report the important above activities well, and must timely transmit information, comment and remembrance articles from the People’s Daily, Xinhua and other main central news work units.

III. Strengthen online public opinion guidance and management. For all websites’ corresponding copy, only copy from main central news work units and main Hebei provincial news work units may be used, important copy must be checked and inspected by the responsible person himself, it is strictly prohibited to translate and issue foreign media copy, instructions must be requested for issues of uncertainty. A good atmosphere must be created for remembrance activities, do not discuss and do not play up predictions of the Tangshan earthquake in that year, the level of the earthquake, the refusal to accept foreign aid, the fact that casualty numbers have not been officially published, etc., prevent that there are people who slander the image of the Party and there government under the guise of so-called “rethinking” “uncovering,” etc. Management over forums, blogs, news trackers and other interactive columns must be strengthened, timely block and delete rumors, attacks, distortions and all other kinds of harmful information.

26 July 2006, 17:31, Network Management Office

Concerning the matter of the closure of Century China, is not to be reprinted or discussed without exception.

(1) Strictly use standard sources, it is prohibited to self-gather news, do not engage in VIP chats, continuous interviews, etc.

(2) Strictly manage posts, do not point fingers at the Israeli people.

(3) Focus on reporting our leaders’ comforting and caring for the killed personnel and their relatives.

(4) Confirm the spirit of our peacekeepers of devotion to duty in the chaos of war, and brave contributions and sacrifices, as well as the contribution made in preserving peace.

(5) According to the central theme of the talks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, condemn the action of bombing. Pay attention not to point fingers at the Israeli people.

(6) Objectively report the declarations of the United Nations and relevant countries.

27 July 2006, 20:55, Network Management Office, Duty Manager MSN

“The Qinghai-Tibet Railway Infrastructure Operation Situation Is Good, There Are A Few Sections Where the Trackbed Subsides”

(1) Do not issue it in the important news section.

(2) Do not issue it on the main page of websites.

(3) Do not open trackers.

(4) No longer send short messages.

(5) Deal with this in a low-key manner.

Please immediately deal with this.

28 July 2006, 16:20, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

“Beijing Puts Forward Design Plan for a Capital of Five Colors – Central Park to Be Built in Wangfujing,” this articles is only an internal discussion paper, and is not the final plan, reports are inaccurate. All websites are requested to immediately delete it.

31 July 2006, 18:51, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

(1) All websites will make “democracy course” and “democracy course – electronic version” into keywords and block it.

(2) Concerning reporting on the periodical elections of district and county people’s congresses, all websites are only to report matters once, do not set up special subjects.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-24/feed/1Censorship Vault: Beijing Internet Instructions Series (18)http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-18/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-18/#commentsMon, 26 Nov 2012 16:55:04 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=147129In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing Internet Instructions” series to the Censorship Vault. These directives were originally published on Canyu.org (Participate) and date from 2005 to 2007. According to Canyu, the directives were issued by the Beijing Municipal Network Propaganda Management Office and the State Council Internet management departments and provided to to Canyu by insiders. China Copyright and Media has not verified the source.

Everyone, (1) Guangdong Province will deal with the relevant responsible persons of the grave illegal incident of 6 December in the Shanwei Red Bay Open Economic Zone where a small number of people incited villagers to beat, smash and loot a wind power station and violently attack law enforcement cadres and police, and open the court session to try relevant troublemakers. On this matter, the main Guangdong provincial newspapers, Southern News Network, Jinyang net, Dayang net and Shenzhen News Net will respectively on 24 and 25 May issue relevant information. Apart from the above mentioned media, other regional website are not to reprint or report relevant information without exception, it is also not to be discussed on forums, blogs, trackers and other interactive segments.

(2) Concerning the matter of inviting tenders for land use rights for land use in public construction and apartment programs in Datun Beiding Village, Chaoyang District, Beijing (the original Morgan Center Program), no reports are made for the time being.

Everyone, please put these two articles in the content of running the web in a civilized manner: More than 800 Beijing Internet Cafés Are Ordered to Rectify, and Training of All Legal Representatives of Internet Cafés in the Entire City of Beijing Completed, this is present on the news centers of Sina, Sohu and NetEase.

25 May 2006, 0:10, Chen Hua

Everyone, please put this article 200 Netizens Become The First Batch of Special Network Supervisors in Beijing on the main pages of websites, and at the same time, put it in the running the web in a civilized manner section of the important news section of the news center, juxtapose it with the People’s Representative Gao Gang’s talk about running the web in a civilized manner, and at the same time, put Call for Initiating a New Network Civilization on Exhibition in the footer of the important news section on running the web in a civilized manner, juxtapose it with Beijing’s dealing with 800 Internet Cafés, other articles on running the web in a civilized manner are to be put in the special subject section.

Today, a number of domestic websites and forums have disseminated posts concerning teachers in the Chongqing Three Gorges Normal School and teachers in many schools in Jintang County, Chongqing, respectively organizing student strike activities. No website may report this sort of information, existing information must be immediately removed. Please acknowledge receipt!

28 May 2006, 8:55, Lu Chao, Network Supervision Office

Today, a tax driver has committed suicide over dissatisfaction about rising fuel prices, news departments are notified that the municipal government will not let news and comment be uploaded (pay attention to secrecy).

29 May 2006, 13:54, Network Supervision Office, Duty Manager 1

Everyone, concerning the case of Huiji District, Zhengzhou being “The world’s first district government” and “the world’s largest district government,” please delete corresponding reports, trackers, blogs, posts and other interactive segments.

29 May 2006, 14:32, Network Supervision Office, Duty Manager 1

Everyone, this is demanded again, after the earthquake in Java Province, Indonesia, our country’s government has sent a message of condolences and provided emergency relief aid. A small number of netizens has published attacking or abusive discussions that are against the spirit of humanitarianism on forums and news trackers, maliciously irritating Sino-Indonesian relations. All websites, (1) close news trackers; (2) discussion on forums, blogs, etc., on this must reflect the sympathy, condolences and aid of our country’s government and people towards Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries suffering from the earthquake, benefit the friendly relationships of China with Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries and benefit our country’s good international image; (3) all sorts of harmful information must be timely deleted.

30 May 2006, 16:12, Chen Hua

Everyone, those two articles that are now on front pages or important news sections on running the web in a civilized manner may be removed to the special subject section, the title of this section is to be civilized into “initiating the wind of network civilization, run the Web in a civilized manner, use the Web in a civilized manner,” it is still to be put in the second position, and directly link to the special subject section on running the web in a civilized manner.

30 May 2006, 18:56

Everyone, concerning the matter of the female news anchor dying in the house of the vice-mayor, do not play this up, do no issue any new article, existing article are to be pushed to the back stage, forums, blogs and trackers are not to discuss this matter, please acknowledge.

31 May 2006, 0:00, Chen Hua

There are trackers online calling for Agricultural Bank workers to strike, all are requested to delete or remove this, especially on all relevant forums.

31 May 2006, 20:07

Do not report the “True Love Cup” article soliciting activities and related matters, interactive segments are not to play this up or discuss this.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-18/feed/0Censorship Vault: Beijing Internet Instructions Series (12)http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-12/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-12/#commentsMon, 19 Nov 2012 17:02:40 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=146838In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing Internet Instructions” series to the Censorship Vault. These directives were originally published on Canyu.org (Participate) and date from 2005 to 2007. According to Canyu, the directives were issued by the Beijing Municipal Network Propaganda Management Office and the State Council Internet management departments and provided to to Canyu by insiders. China Copyright and Media has not verified the source.

Information on “Minsheng Bank Aims 3 Million Yuan Credit Limit Card at Vice-Ministerial Level Cadres” is a false report, please do not reprint it, where it has been reprinted, delete it immediately. Please acknowledge receipt, thank you.

30 March 2006

Network Supervision Office notice: everyone: if you see articles concerning the poisoning of the band “Super Mary” (Luo Jing, Han Xuan), if the article attacks the police, delete it.

30 March 2006

Concerning the case of NetEase thanking for a loan in Japanese Yen, the original text may not be distributed, but if there are positive guiding articles on forums, refuting the notion of NetEase’s Japanese Yen loan, they may be distributed and posted on forums, but firmly grasp the extent, they cannot have radical acts, or whatever calls for demonstrations, etc. Attention must also be paid to the fact that reactions in forums concerning this matter cannot be too ardent or animated.

29 March 2006

If reports have already been reprinted about the opening of the trial on the daughter or a Tsinghua University professor being throttled to death by a ticket seller, please delete it immediately.

26 March 2006

The report “Jiangsu Police Hit on the Head with Gun by Colleagues in Bathroom in Violent Attack” is untrue, please delete it immediately.

(2) After Chen Yizou Leaves, the Beijing News Does Not Understand Win-Win

22 March 2006

Articles that the Information Office notified to be deleted:

(1) Only Re-Evaluating Mao Zedong Can Strengthen the Masses’ Faith in Reform

(2) “Yang Xiaokai – A Record on Random Thoughts on Chinese Politics”

(3) A Strong Speech by Hu Jintao to Japan that Is Rarely Known by the People!

21 March 2006

(1) Some Japanese members of parliament have inspected the Diaoyu Islands from an airplane, do not report it, forums are also not to discuss it. Please acknowledge receipt, thank you. (Delete)

(2) Please do not reprint the reported text of the Chongqing Morning Times of Chongqing Plans to Build Two More Dams in the Yangtze – The Total Amount of Installations Exceeds the Gezhou Dam, if it has been reprinted, please immediately remove the article. Please acknowledge receipt, thank you. (Delete)

(3) Please delete the text on expert suggestions to change Beijing into a special administrative zone, and expanding the area by eight times. Please acknowledge receipt, thank you.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/11/censorship-vault-beijing-internet-instructions-series-12/feed/0NetEase News Calls Out Global Timeshttp://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/10/netease-news-calls-out-global-times/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/10/netease-news-calls-out-global-times/#commentsTue, 16 Oct 2012 02:50:32 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=144744When Hu Xijin, chief editor of the government state-run Global Times, predicted Mo Yan would win the Nobel prize in literature last week, he warned the public to brace itself for the verdict, to “keep a ‘calm heart’ about it” and remember “whose ‘turn’ it is.” Once Mo Yan won, Hu embraced the politicking of the prize, proclaiming that the West could not reject mainstream Chinese culture “for much longer.”

The online media platform NetEase took a veiled jab at Hu Xijin and his newspaper with an allusive Weibo post:

NetEaseNewsClient: The wheel of history rolls forward. Only the grass that is adept at adjusting its direction can keep sticking to the front of the car. @HuXijin @GlobalTimes

The grass alluded to in word and image is the annual fleabane, known as qiangtoucao (墙头草) or “wall-top grass” in Chinese. Qiangtoucao also means “fence-sitter,” someone who bends to the prevailing political or social winds to stay rooted.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/10/netease-news-calls-out-global-times/feed/1Diaoyu Protesters “Backed by the State”http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/08/global-times-diaoyu-protesters-backed-by-the-state/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/08/global-times-diaoyu-protesters-backed-by-the-state/#commentsFri, 17 Aug 2012 01:36:28 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=141826After the arrest of Hong Kong activists on the disputed Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands, Photoshopped images are not the only thing rankling netizens today. People have also called foul on a Global Times editorial titled “Coordination Needed to Succeed in Diaoyu.” Besides the expected claims to Chinese sovereignty over the uninhabited islands, the paper sternly lectures:

Chinese society needs to understand that grass-roots activists for Diaoyu are being backed by the State. While there is no open official support of the activists landing on Diaoyu, that does not mean these activists are acting on their own. Their safe trip to Diaoyu, and eventual safe return, are both the result of China’s national strength.

…Meanwhile, Chinese need to be clear that China cannot retrieve the Islands now. This would mean a large-scale war, which is not in China’s interests.

Plenty of netizens are not buying this argument, but they are quickly being shushed. Sina Weibo has disabled the commenting function on some posts linking to this article, including, ironically, on @SinaComment (新浪新闻). (Since the screenshot below was posted, five bland comments have appeared.) NetEase and other portals have also limited discussion.

The comment function (lower left) was disabled on this Weibo post.

CDT Chinese has gathered a few of the more interesting comments on the subject:

BlueNetizen: At the time of maintaining stability dominants everything elses, where do you get the strength to protect the Diaoyu Islands? When the underclass is looking down the barrel of a gun, how can they start a “war?” The subjects of the Celestial Empire need to be clear on this point: this country doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the “representatives.” “Protecting Diaoyu” just causes trouble for the representatives! I bet as soon as the spotlight moves these protesters will be arrested.

HelpaBrotherMakeBooze: Reading this article is like swallowing a fly. The whole thing is for a domestic audience. If it isn’t blaming the outsiders it’s making hardline negotiations, like a little shrew of a woman.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/08/global-times-diaoyu-protesters-backed-by-the-state/feed/0No More Politics, Get Back to Studyinghttp://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/07/no-more-politics-get-back-studying/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/07/no-more-politics-get-back-studying/#commentsTue, 10 Jul 2012 19:40:23 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=139684In the aftermath of the Shifang protests, Party mouthpiece Global Times published an editorial on July 6 exhorting adults not to “encourage students to demonstrate.” The paper reminded readers that “high school students were among the main force of the Red Guards,” the vicious bands of Party zealots who carried out much of the ruin of the Cultural Revolution. On this note, NetEase Weibo user 404dead has a coy follow-up question:

404dead: The Global Times says that “the job of high school students is only to study; they should not be encouraged to directly take part in matters of national politics. It is immoral for adults to exploit the young for political ends.” Global Times, please explain this picture:

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/07/no-more-politics-get-back-studying/feed/1No Weibo for the New York Timeshttp://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/06/no-weibo-new-york-times/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/06/no-weibo-new-york-times/#commentsFri, 29 Jun 2012 17:18:46 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=139094“This user doesn’t exist :(”
The New York Times Chinese-language venture, launched this Wednesday, is off to a bumpy start. While the website itself is running, the site’s]]>

“This user doesn’t exist :(”

The New York Times Chinese-language venture, launched this Wednesday, is off to a bumpy start. While the website itself is running, the site’s Sina Weibo account went down just hours after its launch. It was up again on Thursday evening. “Given that the site was brand new, they could not have possibly posted anything controversial,” says Philip Chun at Shanghaiist. But Chun, CDT and other media outlets spoke too soon. @nytchinese is down again.

The Times Weibo account may have been shuttered not for anything it said, but for its mere presence. Times Foreign Editor Joseph Kahn says “We’re not tailoring it to the demands of the Chinese government.” The cn.nytimes.com server is based outside of China. In a blog post announcing the launch, staff writer Christine Haughney notes the Chinese site will adhere to the same standards as the English-language edition.

The Times gained 25,195 followers before the second shut-down. Its Tencent Weibo account is still up, with nearly 7900 followers, but its Sohu and NetEase Weibos are both down.

The Times Chinese edition includes translated articles and original Chinese-language content. It seeks a middle-class, urbane audience, as can be seen from its advertisers: Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier and other luxury companies. That same audience thirsts for high-quality, incisive reporting. The question is, will the Chinese censors allow it to deliver, or continue to cut off major platforms like Weibo?

As the Times faces pressure to clean up for the authorities, Zhang Zhi’an, an associate professor at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Communication and Design, sees the paper’s experiment as a litmus test for foreign media in China:

ZhangZhi’an: The New York Times Chinese edition has two issues worth paying attention to: 1) Will the Times translate and publish articles on sensitive subjects or which report negatively on China? 2) Which discrepancies will there be between the English and Chinese versions of the same article? These questions may offer a window onto the monitoring pressure and self-censorship of foreign Chinese-language media.

The Financial Times and Wall Street Journal both have Chinese-language editions, each with fully functional Weibo accounts. It’s unclear what the Times could have done to cross the censors. Hopefully, the paper will get a chance to answer Dr. Zhang’s questions.

“Is this real? Excellent!” wrote another. “Now the only terrorist left is the United States!” …

Other Weibo commenters, however, appeared happy about Mr. bin Laden’s death, partly because the terrorist leader’s political agenda was said to pose a direct threat to security in China’s northwestern territory of Xinjiang …

In [an] oblique reference to Chinese politics, a number of Chinese Twitter users passed around a message reading: “Of the ten most evil people in the world, the U.S. has killed one. Now there are nine left.”

Nine is the number of members on the Chinese Communist Party’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee ….

In a more analytical vein, former journalist and prominent political blogger Wen Yunchao argued on his Twitter account that the death of Mr. bin Laden would have consequences for China’s foreign policy.

“In the past, the U.S. needed China to join the fight against terrorism and so made more than a few concessions,” Mr. Wen wrote. “Now that bin Laden is dead, there’s one less constraint. The Free World now has more power to encircle China on the issue of universal values.”

As news spread Monday, there was some celebration on the Chinese Web, but also a note of chilliness toward the U.S. than I didn’t anticipate. Zhang Xin, the director of the China Central Television’s National Security and Military Channel posted of bin Laden: “As a billionaire, he didn’t want to live a comfortable life, but chose to challenge the superpower, chose to live the life of a caveman. What was he trying to do? Laden was the greatest national hero in Arab history. Using his own power to fight the most powerful country in the world, America….Whether Laden is dead for real or not, it’s not important anymore. He has already become a spirit, an anti-American system of thought.”

Conspiracy theories and anxiety about the U.S. have a long life in Chinese security circles, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. More striking is a dark parable that was circulating fast on Monday afternoon, the kind of viral shred of cynicism that could never have spread in 2001:

Al Qaeda once sent five terrorists to China: One was sent to blow up a bus, but he wasn’t able to squeeze onto it; one was sent to blow up a supermarket, but the bomb was stolen from his basket; one was sent to blow up a train, but tickets were sold-out; finally, one succeeded in bombing a coal mine, and hundreds of workers died. He returned to Al Qaeda’s headquarters to await the headlines about his success, but it was never reported by the Chinese press. Al Qaeda executed him for lying.

China hailed the killing as “a milestone and a positive development for the international anti-terrorism efforts.”

“Terrorism is the common enemy of the international community. China has also been a victim of terrorism,” foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu was quoted by the official Xinhua news agency as saying.

Ms. Jiang was referring to China’s restless far western region of Xinjiang, where separatists have been waging a bloody insurgency against Chinese rule.

“China upholds that the international community should step up cooperation in working together to fight terrorism,” Ms. Jiang was quoted as saying.

I have always had a pretty good relationship with NetEase.* The news section of their website frequently posts articles I’ve written. Four years ago I quietly started a blog on NetEase. Afterwards, a NetEase editor sent me a letter inviting me to start a blog, to which I responded that I already had. Thereafter, the editor took it upon herself to repost articles from my other blogs. This practice has continued to the present. They often promote articles I’ve written on my blog which has greatly increased the number of hits I get. Because of this, I’ve always felt a great sense of gratitude towards this website.

Going into the latter half of 2009, however, the number of hits on my blog dropped off sharply. The reason was not clear. Netizens informed me that when they searched for my blog articles they discovered that “Zhang Lifan” had become a “sensitive word.” I gave it a try myself. When I searched [on NetEase] under blog titles for “Zhang Lifan” a window popped up that read: The content you have entered contains a sensitive keyword. Displaying [the relevant search result] is prohibited!”

On July 20, 2010, my NetEase blog was blocked. Ten days after I asked around to get a diagnosis, my blog was unblocked. Since then, blog entries are still continually being screened at the same time as notices appear on my page stating that content on my blog is in violation of the rules and that I can apply online for an expedited review of the matter. After I click on the button to apply to have the matter reviewed, the lock on my blog is lifted within one or two days. However, there have also been times when the lock has not been lifted. Recently, the screening has become more and more serious. The language informing me that content has been screened has also changed:

“Dear user, because this entry contains content which violates the nation’s “Administration of Internet Information Services Procedures,” we cannot at this time make the content available externally. We are keenly aware of the effort you have poured into writing this article and are keenly aware of your anxiousness to share this content with your friends. However, this is in order to be able to continue to provide you with reliable service. We hope that you will understand.”

The wording is pretty “humane and sympathetic,” but after this friendly reminder the button that once read “apply for review online” has disappeared. The subtext was clear: when [we] block [you] there is nothing to discuss, and there’s also no way to complain. I inspected the article myself and found that there was nothing in it that violated the rules. A lot of articles that I post on my blog have already been published by the print media and can be found on other websites and blogs. They can also be reposted by other people who have blogs on NetEase. It looks as though my blog is enjoying “special treatment.” They are more willing to mistakenly kill a whole article than to let even one character slip by. An article is run through the filter of “sensitive words” and is automatically blocked if it contains any of those words.

Take my article, “K.P. Chen Sees Through Both Nationalists and Communists” for example. This article was published in 2010 in issue 37 of New Century. A number of websites and online forums reposted this article. NetEase’s news center also reposted this article. However, this same article was blocked on my personal NetEase blog.

Even though there was no real way to complain, I still had to complain somehow. After performing a search I discovered that one can complain to the “NetEase Assistant.” The address is:

So at around 12:30 on September 10, 2010 I got on this interface. Below is my conversation with “NetEase Assistant, Little E.”

Zhang Lifan: Posts on my blog are continually being blocked. Can you tell me whether some filtering setting has been applied [to my blog]?

Little E: Currently there are two main reasons that blogs are being blocked: the content of users’ blogs, and the conduct of users.

Content of users’ blogs: This mainly refers to spreading on one’s blog some content that violates the nation’s laws such as content that is pornographic, gory, violent, etc. If [your blog] has been screened for this reason, then first delete the illegal content on your blog and then click the link on the message sent to you by the system that reads, “apply online” to resolve the block.

Conduct of users: This mainly refers to certain users that use the blog to send spam or use the blog to engage in personal attacks on other users or other behavior. It also refers to users who have been reported by other users. In these instances the system will also block [the reported user’s blog]. Please clean up the illegal content on your blog and then click on the link on the message sent to you by the system that reads, “apply online” to resolve the block.

Zhang Lifan: The content is not illegal, you’re just blocking it based on the fact that it contains certain words that are filtered. Also, the “apply online” function has disappeared.

Little E: We have recorded your message. Thank you for your feedback!

Zhang Lifan: The same blog post that is being blocked on my blog is being reposted on the NetEase news center. Isn’t this a bit ridiculous?

Little E: We have recorded your message. Thank you for your feedback!

Zhang Lifan: When can I get a real response? Am I speaking with a robot?

Little E: I don’t understand. Perhaps you can describe your problem one more time. When you ask questions, please use correct grammar and avoid using incorrect characters, for example, [don’t say]: “How do blogs change their clothes.” [Note: this is an informal way of saying, “how do I change my blog’s skin, or appearance.”]

Zhang Lifan: I haven’t used incorrect grammar or incorrect characters. It looks like there is no difference between robots and bureaucrats. Goodbye.

Little E: Bye Bye ~ If you run into any more problems don’t forget to find me again!

The replies didn’t address my questions. Besides constantly repeating some precompiled set phrases all I heard was, “We have recorded your message. Thank you for your feedback.” I was really speechless. I could only admire. . .

After this complaint, the article “K.P. Chen Sees Through Both Nationalists and Communists” disappeared from NetEase’s news center. One week later, the blog post of the same title was unblocked.

Apparently, the robot speaking to me was just a small time gangster; the real mob boss is the robot known as “GFW” [great firewall of China]. The GFW reigns over the virtual “Sensitive Empire of the East.” This country is experiencing an epidemic of “sensitive-itis.” The pathogen is a type of “super-filtered virus.” Every netizen is a carrier of this disease. Outbreaks are controlled by the programming of the internet. The scale of the outbreak can be large or small depending on the mood of the mob boss. At any time, at any place, there is always the possibility of violent outbreaks.

At this point I’m really not sure; is it us that have this disease or is it the empire that has the disease?

September 21, 2010, Wind and Rain Reading Room

* NetEase is a Chinese internet company that operates 163.com, a popular internet portal which supports a search engine, email service, news, and blogs.

** “Little E” is an automatic online interface that attempts to resolve problems people encounter when using NetEase. The translator has verified that all the replies (and emoticons) given by “little E” are the automatic responses to Zhang Lifan’s queries.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2010/10/zhang-lifan-%e7%ab%a0%e7%ab%8b%e5%87%a1-sensitive-empire-a-conversation-with-the-internet-monitoring-robo/feed/0Warcraft Row: An Industry Game Changerhttp://chinadigitaltimes.net/2010/03/warcraft-row-an-industry-game-changer/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2010/03/warcraft-row-an-industry-game-changer/#commentsTue, 09 Mar 2010 22:04:21 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=52304Caixin looks at Netease’s struggle to get the game World of Warcraft back online in China and the bureaucratic turf wars that the gaming industry must navigate:

NetEase is a veteran of Chinese online gaming, with seven years of industry experience. So it was stunned when a seemingly straight development path suddenly descended into a dark maze after the company sought government permission to operate China’s version of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, an online role-playing game enjoyed by millions of Chinese.

NetEase eventually succeeded. But along the way, the company lost a lot of money and had to play games with a pair of competing bureaucracies that each sought an upper hand in regulating the online gaming business.

Now more than ever, NetEase understands how necessary it is to play the government’s license game and the regulatory contest between the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP). The company also learned that good government relation is the key to winning in the online gaming sector.

And NetEase is not out of the woods. World of Warcraft is back online after a long blackout, but the dispute between the culture ministry and GAPP over gaming regulation has yet to be settled.

]]>http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2010/03/warcraft-row-an-industry-game-changer/feed/0Peng Bo (彭波): “The Main Problems Relating to Internet News Propaganda”http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/12/peng-bo-%e5%bd%ad%e6%b3%a2-%e2%80%9cthe-main-problems-relating-to-internet-news-propaganda%e2%80%9d/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/12/peng-bo-%e5%bd%ad%e6%b3%a2-%e2%80%9cthe-main-problems-relating-to-internet-news-propaganda%e2%80%9d/#commentsThu, 17 Dec 2009 15:54:33 +0000http://chinadigitaltimes.net/?p=48773In China, several political bodies are in charge of Internet content control. At the highest level, there is the Central Propaganda Department, which ensures that media and cultural content follows the official line as mandated by the CCP. Then there is the State Council Information Office (SCIO), which has established “Internet Affairs Bureau” to oversee all Websites that publish news, including the official sites of news organizations as well as independent sites that post news content.

Recently, the ninth session of the 2009 SCIO Internet News Work Training Session just finished in Beijing. All participants are top editors and managers of major news websites in China. The trainers include:

* Li Wufeng, Bureau Chief of the State Council Information Office Internet Affairs Bureau
* Peng Bo, Deputy Chief of the State Council Information Office Internet Affairs Bureau
* Professor Zhu Feng, Peking University School of International Relations
* Song Fufan, Director of the Ideology and Political Education Teaching and Research Section of the Marxist Theory Research Department at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China
* Zhai Huisheng, Party Secretary of the All China Federation of Working Journalists
* Professor Gao Gang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Renmin University School of Journalism and Communication
* Xia Chenghua, Deputy Chief of the Central Government Stability Preservation Leading Group Office
* Zhou Xisheng, Deputy Chief of Xinhua News Agency, Director-General of Xinhua News Agency

Soon after the training finished, one of the participants released her notes from this session online. CDT has translated the entire collection of notes from this 2009 SCIO Internet News Work training session; in total there are eight articles, which we will publish consecutively in coming days. CDT would like to thank the translator, who wishes to remain anonymous. The first translated installment of notes is here, and this is the second:

Peng Bo, Deputy Chief of the State Council Information Office Internet Affairs Bureau

1, Commercial websites must understand that it is the government that protects the development of domestic websites. If the Chinese internet didn’t have Sina, then Yahoo would have free rein; if there were no Baidu, then Google would have free rein; if there were no QQ, then MSN would have free rein. All of this is because the government is intentionally fostering domestic enterprises.

2, Key news websites and commercial websites should unify their thinking, they should learn to think politically.

Criticize Sina for not thinking politically; when reporting on Obama’s visit to China, they played without authorization a video of Obama speaking in Shanghai.

The most important part of Obama’s visit to China was his speech in Shanghai. The format of this speech was different than the speech format used by past U.S. presidents when visiting China. It was specially designed by the U.S. government to enlarge Obama’s personal influence.

Before Obama visited China, America and China negotiated that websites and television stations would broadcast the event. China accepted their request; however, live television coverage was to be limited to Shanghai area television stations.

These measures were implemented to accord with the Party’s Central Committee‘s desire that people become enthused about China-U.S. relations rather than be enthused about Obama.

Providing a video of Obama’s speech without authorization was done for Sina’s commercial interest and was not done for the nation’s interest. In order to gain a little, a lot was lost.

Criticize Netease for going after sensational stories and not doing a good job of directing public opinion. [Netease’s] international news headlines are always things like “New York Mayor Bloomberg Receives Annual Salary of $1”, “Black American Becomes Mayor”, “American Youth Becomes Mayor”. These headlines are sensationalist and cast aspersions [on the Chinese government]. [Netease] has set the wrong direction for public opinion and has not properly fulfilled its role as a guide [of public opinion].

3, Each web organization gets a perfect score for their reporting of the 60th Anniversary National Day celebrations. Liu Yunshan [head of the Central Propaganda Department] has given his comment as evaluation: “it cannot be done better.” This is a classic example of the Internet positively guiding public opinion. I praise everyone’s work and express thanks to each website.

4, As for my expectations and hopes for everyone: magnify positive news stories; to the extent possible don’t report negative news stories. The Internet media should not be influenced by the Western media which thinks bad news is good news.

4.[sic] I’d like to recommend a few books to everybody, and hope that all Internet news editors can take a look at them.

* Samuel Huntington, Political Order in Changing Societies
* Gustave Le Bon, The Crowd
* Zhao Tingyang, Philosophy of the World Order

5, Conclusion: China’s Internet media is only ten years old. It is understandable that some mistakes will be made; however, I hope that everyone can soon become more seasoned in their work.